April 1st, 2016
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Venter’s Back!, Saturn’s Moons, Geysers of Enceladus, Hobbit Floresiensis Update, Out Of Africa, Blood-thirsty Prairie Dogs, Smart Skuas, Ant Antennae, Puppy Transplants, Cure For Aging, Stem Cells For Spines, Fridge Lasers, And Much More!
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Disclaimer, disclaimer, disclaimer!
The first time Human ancestors left the tree to go walking in the wide open world…
They must have been afraid of everything…
Or…
Everything must have been afraid of them…
Or…
Nothing much noticed them until it was much too late and Humanity had spread world wide
In any case… the few things that were noticed or not,
caused or overcame fear, had one thing in common
Knowledge
Our ancestors ability to acquire knowledge made them powerful enough to set out with ape brains
And conquer a planet
And so in the spirit of our ape brained heritage we offer you knowledge
That you may set out from the trees of humanity
And conquer the world as you see fit
Yes, it time once again for
This week in science
Coming up next…
Venter’s Back!
After a couple of years without a peep from the J. Craig Venter Institute about synthetic bacteria, they are back with a paper in Science detailing their work into creating the world’s most minimal genome, a key step in developing a genome from scratch.
Saturn’s Moons
A new model of ring and moon formation around Saturn suggests that the inner moons only formed recently within 100 million years or so. This interpretation doesn’t bode well for the possibility of life on Enceladus.
Geysers of Enceladus
Speaking of Enceladus, another paper modelling the dynamics of the water jets on inner moon of Saturn concludes that the forces might be self-sustaining for periods of up to a million years.
Hobbit floresiensis Update
Dating of tools left behind by Homo floriensis suggests that they died out earlier than previously thought… did they die while Homo sapiens spread?
Australopithecus out of Africa… (great rift valley anyway)
Fossil finds put A. afarensis much further east than previously discovered.
Blood-thirsty prairie dogs
Killing squirrels for sport. Or, because they asked for it?
Antarctic bird much smarter than we thought
An antarctic bird called a skua can differentiate individual humans, and they hold a grudge…
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Ant Antennae
Not just for picking up odors anymore! These insectoid tuning-forks are also for sending messages.
Fecal Transplants For Puppies!
Poop’s got what puppies need when they have diarreah.
Poop Safety
An analysis of fecal transplants found that non-pathogenic and bacterial viruses squeak through the screening process. It’s unknown what kinds of effects these microbes have on recipients.
The Cure For Aging
Is exercise. Older athletes were much better off than non-exercising peers in a recent study.
Stem Cells For Spines
For the first time, researchers showed regeneration of corticospinal pathways in injured spinal cords of paralyzed rats using stem cell grafts. These neurons specifically transmit signals for voluntary movement, and success in this area could lead to better prognoses for paralysis victims.
Green lights could save sea turtles
Turtles hate ’em, fish don’t mind ’em. Green lights are a win-win!
Micro-sanctuaries make all the difference
Some might say that saving a little forest doesn’t do any good, but it turns out that it just might save a species from extinction.
Fridge Laser?
Engineers come up with the darndest ideas.
Chicken Pox Possibility
In a study, researchers found a reduced risk of gliomas in those people who had chicken pox as children.
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Tags: Blair Bazdarich, Dr. Kiki, Justin Jackson, Kirsten Sanford, new media, news, Patreon, podcast, radio, science, science news, science podcast, science radio, talk, technology, This Week in Science, TWIS
Posted in animals, anthropology, archeology, arthropods, astronomy, astronomy, astrophysics, astrophysics, bioethics, bioethics, biology, biotechnology, birds, cell biology, cognitive science, conservationism, ecology, emergent behavior, endangered animals, engineering, evolution, genetics, geology, infectious diseases, insects, KDVS, mammals, medicine, microbiology, molecular biology, NASA, neuroscience, nutrition, paleontology, physics, physiology, planets, podcast, science, science and politics, Science Education, science history, Science Music, seti, sexy scientists, space, space exploration, stem cells, technology, therapies, z-Broadcasts | No Comments »
March 25th, 2016
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Blowing In The Wind, Hansens’s Paper Published, First Light, Toxo Rage?, Invasive Costs, Panda Ears, Stand Up!, Dwarf Space, Bacterial Communities, Make Hearts, Wolfy Hyenas?, And Much More!
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Disclaimer, disclaimer, disclaimer!
What you are about to here is unlike anything else you have ever heard…
We are certain of this for the very inescapable reason that nothing you are about to hear was known before…
This is not a recap, a redux, or reinterpretation of an old formulaic plot line,
archaic theme or out of print fiction magazine…
No…
What you are about to hear is all new…
So new, that much of it is happening now…
So current are the stories…
That there is a chance of getting swept up by them…
So intimately and indispensably involved with our daily lives are the tales to be told,
That there may be tears of fond farewell when it’s over…
But it’s never over…
at least not now it isn’t…
in fact it hasn’t even begun…
Because if it had begun it would make absolutely no sense for me to say
This Week In Science…
Coming Up Next.
Blowing In The Wind
The next 100 years might see a reduced Atlantic dust stream from the Saharan desert as global temperatures climb, and tropical circulation decreases. A recent study looks at the mechanisms for how Sarahan dust gets into the atmosphere in the first place, and at how it has changed over the past century, in order to make predictions about the future.
Hansens’ Paper Published
We reported on it earlier this year, but the paper has finally passed peer review, and predicts much higher sea level rise than the IPCC report mainly due to stratification of cold and warm waters due to ice melt.
First Light
The Kepler space telescope has detected the “shock breakout” of a supernova. This is the first time that we have seen the instant of ignition for the massive stellar explosion.
A parasite that needs no introduction… at it again
This time Toxoplasma gondii is possibly linked to rage.
What is the true cost of an invasive species?
It could be far more than we ever imagined…
Panda ears are much more sensitive than we thought
Their hearing is so good, they hear sounds in the ultrasonic range. The problem is, that means human activity could be disturbing their ability to communicate and breed.
Support us on Patreon!
Stand up or die!
(sitting can kill you)
Ceres Spotlight
A volcanic-looking dome rises from Occator Crater, and indicates recent geologic activity. Also, more in-depth analyses suggest water ice just below the surface and mainly near the poles.
Pluvian Lakes
Frozen lakes of nitrogen on Pluto. Looks like it!
It Takes a village… of bacteria…
Paradigm shift: ‘We need to study lumps of bacteria’
Bacteria In Space
One species of bacteria from Earth grew 60% better on the ISS than every other species.
Heart Repair
A new method looks promising for repairing damaged hearts.
Rats make people depressed
More than crime does.
Rough times make unlikely friends
Wolves and hyenas are traveling together through Israel’s Negev desert, looking for food, alive or dead.
Chemistry Printer!
Print anything on demand? It sure sounds like the beginning of the future.
Cannibalism Killed ‘Em?
A model suggests that Neandertals aided their own demise because they cannibalized themselves to death.
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Posted in animals, arthropods, astronomy, astronomy, bioethics, biology, biotechnology, cell biology, chemistry, conservationism, crustaceans, ecology, emergent behavior, end of the world, endangered animals, engineering, evolution, exploration, geography, geology, global warming, insects, KDVS, mammals, marine biology, medicine, microbiology, molecular biology, NASA, pandas, physiology, planets, podcast, science, science and politics, Science Education, science history, Science Music, sexy scientists, space, space exploration, spacecraft, stem cells, technology, Toxoplasma, z-Broadcasts | No Comments »
March 18th, 2016
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High Energy Particles, Protein Puzzles, Illinois Sea Monster, Presidential Speech, Interview w/ Liz Warren re: Humans In Space, Pandas Do It Wrong, Frog Directions, Stork Junkies, Microbial Resistance, Plant Eating Spiders, Alpha Go Wins!, And Much More!
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Disclaimer, disclaimer, disclaimer!
Following hour of programming has not been tested on humans
By listening, you are agreeing to participate in an experiment on intellectual stimulus…
While all the content has been tested scientifically…
A friend of the show who’s wife is a lawyer has convinced us that by disclaiming at the intro
And alerting you to the general potential for increased intellectual stimuli to be habit forming…
No liability can befall us…
Of course, we already secretly know this to be true which is why we are here again on
This week in science…
Coming up next.
High Energy Particles
An experiment analyzing cherenkov radiation in out atmosphere has discovered the source of incredibly high energy cosmic radiation in our galaxy – SgrA, the massive black hole that lies at its center.
Protein Puzzles
Researchers are puzzling through the biochemistry of proteins, and a new study uses a new mathematical tool paired with traditional biochemistry experiments to pin-point important amino acid sequnces influencing the structure and function of the dopamine 2 receptor.
Speaking Like a President?
Presidential speak is geared for junior high level comprehension
The Tully Monster Existed!
Sea Monster stalking Illinois for the past 60 years has been identified
Interview with Liz Warren from NASA, who works on science on the ISS.
Support us on Patreon!
Another way Pandas are doing it wrong
Females won’t stay in one place, and therefore make it even harder for males to find them and perpetuate the species…
Frogs with an interesting sense of direction
Females remember just where their eggs were, but males play the odds, assuming all the eggs in their territory are theirs!
Adaptable Or Not?
A tale of different creatures is playing out before our eyes. In one study, we find that storks, known for long migration routes, are choosing to stay home for the winter as a result of the combination of climate change and human created landfills. The birds have adapted to a situation we created, but will they continue to adapt as we change it further.
A second study finds that microbes in soil are not as adaptable as we have surmised, and were unable to change their respiration rates in response to a change in climate over a 17 year period. This raises questions for agriculture and ecosystems as climate around the world undergoes change.
Control Factors
A landmark study investigating genetic versus epigenetic factors in obesity and inheritance found that epigenetics are highly influential in offspring responses to diet.
Spiders eat plants!
Does that make them less scary?? No?? Bummer
Would you play a video game with an Orangutan?
Interactive video games could help enrich primates’ lives, and potentially give us a new avenue for communication!
Alpha Go Recap
Holy SkyNet, Batman!
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Tags: Blair Bazdarich, Dr. Kiki, Justin Jackson, Kirsten Sanford, NASA, new media, news, Patreon, podcast, radio, science, science news, science podcast, science radio, talk, technology, This Week in Science, TWIS
Posted in aerospace, agriculture, amphibians, animals, archeology, arthropods, artificial intelligence, astrobiology, astronauts, astrophysics, astrophysics, aviation, biology, biotechnology, birds, Black Holes, cell biology, chemistry, civilian space travel, cognitive psychology, cognitive science, computer science, conservationism, ecology, emergent behavior, end of the world, energy, evolution, exploration, galaxies, genetics, global warming, insects, ISS, KDVS, mammals, microbiology, molecular biology, NASA, neuroscience, nutrition, paleontology, pandas, particle physics, physics, physiology, podcast, psychology, robots, science, science and politics, Science Education, science history, Science Music, sexuality, sexy scientists, space, space exploration, spacecraft, technology, world robot domination, z-Broadcasts | No Comments »
March 11th, 2016
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Snow-capped Pluvian Mountaintops, About Those Clouds, Adding To Antibiotics, Ant Brains, It’s Not The Sperm, Same Sex Power Play, Pump Water For Climytia, Magnetic Mind Control, World Robot Domination, Neat Bees, Zika Brains, And Much More!
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Disclaimer, disclaimer, disclaimer!
It’s big world out there…
Not just in the global geographical sense of things…
Yes there are a lot of places to go and see and a wildly diverse range of landscapes to take in…
But the human world is bigger than the planet we happen to be visiting…
For the human world has gone far beyond the visible horizons…
Because the human world is also the world of mind
And within the human mind we can take in landscapes without worldly location
We imagine our way into a thousand lives through our fiction,
as if living them out ourselves…
We walk through fields of physics,
plucking particles from the pasture as though they were wild flowers
We engineer our way to distant planets,
and invented vision to see far beyond our galactic borders
And we re-invent our understanding of everything at every opportunity to improve our knowledge,
our understanding,
and our ability to take on challenges that once had seemed impossible…
It’s a big world out there…
But there’s a much bigger one between your ears and nowhere is that made more clear than
This Week in Science…
Coming up next…
Snow-capped Pluvian Mountaintops
Mountains covered with methane abound on Pluto, according to new evidence from the New Horizon’s mission. An instrument named Ralph imaged the mountains rising out of a region named Cthulu, and found infrared evidence of ice on the mountaintops.
About Those Clouds
Whether or not Pluto’s thin atmosphere is able to form clouds, indicating an active gas cycle, is a question that was brought up this week with reports from New Scientist suggesting preliminary evience of said cloud formation. Note: no one from the New Horizon’s team has weighted in on this yet, so as of now we still don’t know. Please, stop using this as a reason to re-planetize Pluto.
Adding To Antibiotics
Scientists have developed a new method for reinvigorating old antibiotics: add another compound to the mix. When small, biologically inert chemicals called tarocins are added to antibiotics, like methicillin, it renders resistant bacteria once again susceptible.
Ant brains follow their environment
Visual brain areas increased in size or shrank according to visual needs.
Seminal fluid: the plot thickens
It turns out a male can transfer vital information through mating events, even when the female is not in a fertile stage. What mysteries the male “investment” still contains!
Same-sex behavior in beetles is a power play
Beetles may use same-sex sexual behavior to diffuse tension and feel out opponents, as well as to demonstrate social status. Well, that’s one way to get out of a fight!
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How to beat global sea rise?
Getting wetter while warming?
Magnetic Mind Control
Researchers reported developing a magnetically stimulated ion channel, which they linked to touch receptive cells in zebra fish and to dopaminergic neurons in mice. When stimulated, the fish tried to move their tails away from an imagined source of touch, and the mice spent more time in an area of their cage with a magnetic field. The work suggests a new tool has arrived for the study of the brain and behavior.
World Robot Domination
An unpublished study suggests that we might just follow them to our doom.
Our Immune Past
Endogenous retroviruses might be tightly involved in the functioning of our immune systems.
The Zika-Brain Link
Although preliminary, a study shows that neural progenitor cells can be infected with Zika, and the infection leads to a reduction in cell growth and division.
What Is Maturity?
It seems having a fully developed pre-frontal cortex plays a major role. A recently published study found that rather than inhibit certain actions, adult monkey’s brains act to strengthen alternatives.
Would you rather be smart or healthy?
Nature makes us choose. But is the trade-off worth it?
Bees are compulsively neat
…Because living in a hive weakens their immune system.
The AI Is Winning
One game down out of 5, and Google’s AlphaGo is the winner so far in a series of matches against one of the world’s best Go players.
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Tags: Blair Bazdarich, Dr. Kiki, Justin Jackson, Kirsten Sanford, new media, news, Patreon, podcast, radio, science, science news, science podcast, science radio, talk, technology, This Week in Science, TWIS
Posted in alternative energy, animals, anthropology, arthropods, artificial intelligence, astronomy, bioethics, biology, biotechnology, cell biology, chemistry, cognitive psychology, cognitive science, computer science, ecology, emergent behavior, end of the world, energy, energy conservation, engineering, evolution, exploration, geology, global warming, infectious diseases, insects, KDVS, mammals, medicine, meteorology, microbiology, molecular biology, NASA, neuroscience, pharmacology, physiology, planets, podcast, psychology, robots, science, science and politics, Science Education, science history, Science Music, sexuality, sexy scientists, space, space exploration, spacecraft, stem cells, technology, therapies, world robot domination, z-Broadcasts | No Comments »
March 3rd, 2016
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Sponge Life, Giant Viral CRISPR, All For One, Far Flying Fies, Biodiversity Rules, WORLD WILDLIFE DAY!!!, Fairy Wren Affairs, First Land Life, More Moles Good, Defeating AutoImmune Disease, Zombie Frogs Are Sexier?, Smart Lady Spiders, And Much More!
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Disclaimer, disclaimer, disclaimer!
Not everything you think you know is true…
This goes for all of you, all of us, and even includes all of them over there…
We humans are brilliant people…
We have amazing cognitive abilities…
In fact it’s not far from the point of having amazing cognitive abilities that we can say we humans in fact are amazing cognitive abilities…
We don’t just have brains, we are brains…
And as brains we often assume that the world we have reconstructed from our cognitive cartwheeling through sensory regulated reality is a perfect picture of what is out there…
And, depending on the resolution and relative scale at which you set the perspective of being at least able to claim an accurate knowledge about anything…
we manage a fairly decent horseshoes and hand grenades view of the world…
Close enough to organize societies,
Close enough to conquer nature,
Close enough to devise technologies beyond the point where any one person can entirely tell you how anything actually works anymore…
And like a blues refrain, like a philosophical or political meme, like a Sufi, Zen or mother goose tale…
We brains are left with a warm feeling of understanding… close enough to call it truth…
But…
there is one place beyond the skull walls our brains have learned never to rest comfortably on concepts of truth…
The world of science…
for everything we learn in science teaches us that truth is an evolution of ideas,
and a path more restless journey than comfortable destination we brains are traveling on…
And so,
in dedication to brainy restlessness everywhere we bring you…
This Week In Science… coming up next…
Sponge Life
Chemical evidence puts sponges as the earliest life-form, 50 million years earlier than the earliest 600 million year old fossil record evidence.
Giant Viral CRISPR
Not really CRISPR, but a CRISPR-like system has been discovered in the immune systems of the giant Mimivirus, suggesting that the giant viruses have undergone defense system evolution similar to other microbes, including lateral gene-transfer.
All For One
Amoeba are considered unicellular, but some, like Dictyostelium discoideum, become social in certain situations. It was found that 1% of the associated cells take on an immune system-like role with functions that until now were thought to arise with the immune systems of multi-cellular animals.
FlyQuiz…
no peeking
It’s World Wildlife Day!
“The future of wildlife is in our hands”
Communication is key in any relationship
…Of fairy wrens. Those that duet readily are less likely to be cockolded. Take note, gentlemen.
People value biodiversity
And they are willing to pay more to keep it. This is great news for organizations that have trouble asking for government funding because “people won’t pay for it.” It turns out they will!
Support us on Patreon!
More moles = less melanoma
First life on land?
Oldest anyway
Defeating AutoImmune Disease
Russian researchers used humanized mice to develop an antibody against Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) that selectively targets macrophages, but not other immune cells that release TNF, effectively maintaining the beneficial purposes of TNF, like stopping tumor growth, while getting rid of the deleterious effects, like unrestricted cytokine release.
Zombie Frogs Are Sexier?
Researchers investigating Japanese tree frogs found that those infected with a pathogenic fungus called Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), which causes chytrid fugus disease in frogs, might also be responsible for the increase in calling and change in call sound seen in infected males that is more attractive to females.
Music is in our genes…
Loud Deep
It’s loud at the bottom ofthe ocean… even 7 miles beneath the surface in the Marianas Trench.
Black Widows are smart. Smartly dressed, that is!
Their red hourglass warns birds to stay away, but that telltale mark is conveniently difficult for yummy insects to spy.
Holy Plankton poop, batman!
Plastic pollution alters plankton poop!
Decoding Hair
A recent analysis of over 6000 people has elucidated the genes for several hair traits, including a gene for gray hair, that were previously unknown.
Booty Lift 2015
Plastic surgery for the behind was more popular in 2015, along with higher rates of surgery for men.
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Tags: Blair Bazdarich, Dr. Kiki, Justin Jackson, Kirsten Sanford, new media, news, Patreon, podcast, radio, science, science news, science podcast, science radio, talk, technology, This Week in Science, TWIS
Posted in amphibians, animals, anthropology, archeology, arthropods, astrobiology, biology, biotechnology, birds, cancer, cell biology, chemistry, cognitive science, conservationism, ecology, emergent behavior, end of the world, endangered animals, evolution, genetics, geology, global warming, insects, KDVS, mammals, medicine, microbiology, molecular biology, neuroscience, pharmacology, physiology, podcast, psychology, reptiles, science, science and politics, Science Education, science history, Science Music, sexuality, sexy scientists, sponges, therapies, z-Broadcasts | 2 Comments »
February 26th, 2016
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Rapidly Rising Waters, Cutting Out HIV, Probiotics For Cancer, Mama’s Little Helper, Fear for Forests, Dodo Brains, Climate For Change, Tracking Sleep Genes, Spider Webs!, And Much More!
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Disclaimer, disclaimer, disclaimer!
The history of humans on the earth is has been mostly written by humans with little knowledge of human history…
It’s not that our human historians have been lax in their duties,
it’s just that the subject matter predates most serious interest in the subject…
Adding to the problem, we have spotty record keeping,
A lack of written language for most of our history makes it nearly impossible to know the voice of the ancient ancestors…
And those that discovered the written word along the way, seemed to know very little of their own histories… and while the recording of current events became standard fair…
the past was invented as though a to fill a vacuum caused by the present, with frightful, fanciful and full on fantasy visions of a history… that could not have been further from the truth…
Day one of human history is also a difficult thing to put into context
and could have posed a problem even with a written language…
Would a Homo habilis historian covering Homo habilis history continue the work once Homo erectus arrived?
Or merely write… the end.
145 years ago today…
Charles Darwin published Decent of Man…
In it he considered whether humans,
like all the species he considered in Origin of the Species, are descended from an earlier form…
how it may have evolved and whether human racial differences are anything but natural selection…
And, if he were alive today, how much would he have enjoyed listening to
This week In Science…
Coming up Next!
Rapidly Rising Waters
Four papers in PNAS this week based both on computer models and actual data of historical changes conclude that sea level rise is the fastest it’s been in the past 2000 years.
Cutting Out HIV
Molecular scissors are being delevloped to specifically cut HIV out of infected human cells. It’s not CRISPR, but in this case it’s even better.
How probiotics can beat cancer
Good bugs make compounds that influence inflammation, and lead to better gut health.
“Hey mom and dad, do you mind if I crash at home for a few months?”
Bluebird boys that live with their parents an extra year may fair better in life. Should we hide this from the college seniors?
Fear is an important part of being a wild animal
Without large carnivores, ecosystem balance is thrown out of whack. This isn’t just because they aren’t eating, it is also because their prey gets comfortable and lazy.
The dodo wasn’t such a dodo after all…
Turns out it had a fairly average sized brain for a bird of its stature, and a very large olfactory bulb.
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Climate Change and Wealth Redistribution
Without proper assessment and planning, many natural resources will be squandered as they shift to new regions due to the effects of climate change.
Tracking Sleep Genes
The PER3 gene was found to be linked to sleep cycles, and possibly seasonal affective disorder, providing a possible molecular connection between sleep disorders and mood.
Penguin feathers could give us great new technology!
Snow proof stuff!
Toxoplasma Skepticism
A recent study found no evidence of human behavior changes with T. gondii infection.
Spider Webs!
A genetic analysis determined that the web came first in orb spinning spiders, but that ground hunting led to species diversification.
Homoeopathy Farce
Buy TWIS brand homeopathic vodka! You are sure to not ge drunk!
World Robot Domination!
Boston Dynamics is at it again.
Laminate Flooring?
Watch out for formaldehyde! The CDC has been underestimating safety because of a scientific units error. D’oh!
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Posted in animals, anthropology, arthropods, artificial intelligence, bioethics, biology, biotechnology, birds, cancer, cell biology, cognitive psychology, cognitive science, conservationism, ecology, emergent behavior, end of the world, endangered animals, engineering, evolution, FDA, genetics, global warming, insects, KDVS, mammals, medicine, microbiology, molecular biology, neuroscience, oceanography, penguins, physiology, podcast, psychology, robots, science, science and politics, Science Education, science history, Science Music, sexy scientists, sleep, technology, Toxoplasma, world robot domination, z-Broadcasts | No Comments »
February 19th, 2016
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Gravitation Makes Waves, Beating Cancer, We Did It, Selective Elective?, Whooping Whoops?, Rabbit Bye-Bye, Birdie Blood Cell, Your Bacterial Home, Print And Grow, Virgin Mouse Preferences, And Much More!
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Disclaimer, disclaimer, disclaimer!
This Week in Science…coming up next!
Gravitational Waves
Last week, it was announced that the upgraded LIGO detector confirmed detection of the merger of two black holes approximately 1.3 billion years in the past.
Beating Cancer
Preliminary and unpublished results were reported last week at AAAS for a study involving genetic manipulation of immune cells in terminally ill leukemia patients. The results look very promising, which is why they were reported, but the technique still leads to a very high mortality and dangerous side-effect rate.
Birds do it, bees do it, even 100,000 year old humans and neandnerthals do it…
DNA links human neander hanky panky to much earlier date nights
South Africa revives extinct zebra through selective breeding
But is that OK? Is it a good thing? Is this better/worse/the same as cloning a mammoth? Does it even matter?
Whooping cranes thrive in their old habitat, thanks to some uncharacteristic hunting behaviors
Does this make it OK to reintroduce species that are no longer suited? Is this one in the win column for conservation, or will there be unforseen consequences?
Taming The Bunnies
A rabbit virus was introduced in Australia to control the runaway European rabbit problem that caused decline in native populations of mammals and vegetation. Turns out, the virus is doing just what people hoped, and native species seem to be making a comeback as the rabbits dwindle.
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Birds hold the cure!
Specialized white blood cell found in birds can destroy a potentially fatal fungal infection which affects more than one million people every year.
Your Bacterial Home
An analysis of rural and urban homes shows dramatic differences in microbial populations, which could have implications for urban healthcare and recommendations.
Print And Grow
Wake Forest researchers have managed to print and grow multiple cell types together to grow muscle, ears, and bone.
Mini-brains
Researchers reported efforts to create tiny brains from skin cells to study drug effects and brain disorders.
Virgin males would rather watch videos with violence than sex…
At least that’s how it is in mice!
Would you like to regrow teeth and never have to floss again??
Sharks may hold the key.
Pigging Out Perpetuates
A study looking at the brains of mice found that one exposure to high fat, sweet food led to more activity in the reward-seeking areas of the brain for a significant time after suggesting that messing up on your diet can be hard to bounce back from.
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Posted in amphibians, animals, anthropology, archeology, arthropods, astronomy, astronomy, astrophysics, astrophysics, australia bashing, bioethics, bioethics, biology, biotechnology, birds, Black Holes, cancer, cell biology, clinical trials, cnidarians, cognitive psychology, cognitive science, conservationism, cosmology, ecology, emergent behavior, end of the world, endangered animals, evolution, exploration, galaxies, genetics, infectious diseases, insects, KDVS, mammals, medicine, microbiology, molecular biology, neuroscience, nutrition, paleontology, particle physics, pharmacology, physics, physiology, podcast, psychology, science, science and politics, Science Education, science history, Science Music, sexuality, sexy scientists, sharks, space, stem cells, technology, theoretical physics, therapies, z-Broadcasts | No Comments »
February 12th, 2016
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Interview w/ Paul Knoepfler re: Designer Babies, Slime Sees! Toxo Chimp Control, Screaming Flies, Thirsty Ladies, No PDA Chimps, Jib Cutting, Space Challenges, Seasonal Brain Changes???, And Much More!
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With election season well under way,
And the fate of science hanging in the balance…
Many are calling for change…
Some may even wonder,
if we are ready to take the next big step
and elect as president someone unlike any that has served before…
Someone with a unique perspective,
who could truly show how far we have come as a nation…
We have that opportunity, to take that step
And elect our first Robot President…
Now, I know it may not seem logical, but that’s only because you are not a robot…
In seeking the nomination, our robo-candidate could personally reach out
to each and every potential voter by making simultaneous non-pre-recorded robo-calls…
Our robo candidate could not only stay on message like a champ,
but could avoid overt Rubio-esque repetition by creating and sticking to a play-list of talking points…
And then, think of it… a President that never sleeps…
The emergency call that comes at two in the morning,
no different than the one that comes in early afternoon
And most importantly, a president who above all else, ends every speech to the nation with the words…
This week in science… coming up next
Interview with Dr. Paul Knopfler, the author of GMO Sapiens: the life-changing science of designer babies.
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Slime Sees!!!
A study in a species of light-sensing and phototaxing cyanobacteria discovered that they use themselves as mini-lenses, focusing light on a cell wall opposite the source, and then moving toward the light.
Toxo Linked to crazy cat chimps
Chimpanzees infected with Toxoplasmosis were found to seek out their leopard predators. Whut.
Flies can scream at their lady to get her attention
And likewise speak softly when whispering sweet nothings. Fruit flies can control their calls depending on the distance between themselves and their romantic conquest. This is the first time such acoustic control has been observed in any animal besides humans and songbirds!
Red flour beetle females can’t get enough!
Beetle females continue to reproduce, even after they have all the sperm they would ever need, sometimes even coercing reluctant males, but why? It’s all for the moisture from the ejaculate! This brings a whole new meaning to the word “thirsty”…
Male chimps are not into PDA
Chimps were less likely to exhibit grooming behaviors when other chimpos could see. “Oh, so I’m good enough for you to groom at homee, but in front of Sheila you won’t touch me?!”
Cut of old jibs not up to hard chomps
Ancient hominid jaws were not strong enough to support the biting and chewing of tree branches and other hard potential food sources, suggesting limitations to early diets that might have led to the changes in the brain that led to humans.
Hidden Galaxies
Hundreds of galaxies hidden from view by the Milky Way have been discovered, and lend insight into the forces behind the Great Attractor.
Challenge to Jupiter
Maybe Jupiter didn’t protect us from bombardment, but rather along with Saturn was responsible for sending object into Earth’s path.
Seasonal Brain Changes???
A study using a small sample of individuals found seasonal differences in brain activity, suggesting that annual cycles might influence your feelings and thoughts.
The Skinny Bear
Bears have different gut populations of bacteria in the summer from during the winter when hibernating, and when transplanted into mice, had interesting effects on their weight.
Grassy Condoms
Using a nanocellulose from Australian grass called spinifex, scientists think they can make condoms as thin as a human hair, but still as strong.
Gravitational Waves???
We broadcast too early to give you the news this week, but the discovery has been made! And, we will discuss the implications next Wednesday night! Join us again!
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Tags: Blair Bazdarich, Dr. Kiki, Justin Jackson, KDVS, Kirsten Sanford, new media, news, Patreon, Paul Knoepfler, podcast, radio, science, science news, science podcast, science radio, talk, technology, This Week in Science, TWIS
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